Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Max had reached the end of the hallway when he pressed the answer button on his phone.

“Brielle?”

“Max, Wesley is wondering what kind of soup you’d like. They’re whipping something up in the kitchen right now.”

Max chuckled and raised his hand to massage his forehead, easing the headache that was building there. “That man’s favorite pastime must be having the kitchen brew soups.”

Brielle laughed while her fingers danced with yarn and knitting needles. “Seems like it. Every time I visit Premier Palace, Wesley has a pot of soup on the go.”

No sooner had she finished her sentence than she heard Max cough twice. Her knitting paused. and she leaned her cheek closer to the phone on the table. “You should come back soon. I’m worried about your health.”

Max had checked out of the hospital early, which was a stretch. The wounds had slightly reopened after he couldn’t resist spending a night with Brielle.

He had been on edge, and only now had he begun to relax, but trouble had flared up at the rehab center. When a patient was pushed too hard, the body inevitably protested.

Hearing no reply from him, Brielle feared the worst. She couldn’t stay put any longer. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

The idea of a woman picking up a man brought an amused sparkle to Max’s eyes. It was an intriguing reversal.

“I’m still at the rehab center. If you’re coming to fetch me, then I’ll wait for you.

Sweet warmth flooded Brielle’s heart, and she smiled. Just as she was about to set aside her knitting and head out, Max spoke again. “Keep knitting that scarf, though. I want to wear it.”

You couldn’t have your cake.and eat it too.

Brielle sat back down, only resuming her peaceful knitting after Max said he’d get someone else to pick him up.

And that someone else was Andrew.

Andrew had been tuned into the grapevine gossip since last night. He went from initial shock to a begrudging acceptance, but that calm boiled over into a frenzy at the sight of Max. “Max, what the heck happened last night? Did you really flaunt your thing with Brielle in front of the old man?”

Max was sitting in the driver’s seat, coughing twice before closing his eyes lightly. “Yeah.”

Andrew suddenly found himself at a loss for words, feeling stifled.

13:01

Chapter Sub

How had Max fallen for Brielle’s charms? She seemed unremarkable, just a pretty face. Beyond that, what did she really have to offer? It all seemed ludicrous to Andrew, perhaps the most absurd situation he’d encountered in years..

He didn’t know what to say, having always seen Brielle as nothing more than a canary. Now, this canary was settling in, and as someone who had never welcomed her, Andrew was definitely

conflicted.

And now, Aubree was still miffed with him over the whole Brielle fiasco. The

thing was

that Max and Brielle seemed to have gotten closer amidst the chaos, leaving Andrew feeling even more frustrated.

Andrew’s hands gripped the steering wheel as he changed the subject, “By the way, Jaired’s racked up some top honors in the military over the years. The Riddle family’s patriarch is beaming with pride. With Jaired returning, it looks like he might take over the Riddle family reins.” NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

Jaired had always been the most reckless and independent among them. Having angered his grandfather as a teenager, he was shipped off to the military. At his lowest, he reportedly went three days without a meal in the desert.

The old man had the heart to treat his grandson with such tough love, refusing to let him return. Jaired, stubborn as a mule, held out and, against all odds, earned numerous commendations, climbing the ranks. Now, among the younger generation, Jaired’s military standing was arguably the most secure.

Max mentioned Jaired with a hint of a smile, “The guy’s got a spine of steel.”

Andrew cracked a smile, too, noting the festive decorations outside. “Are you bringing Brielle to the gathering?”

It was a social event for their inner circle. Bringing Brielle would implicitly inform everyone of her status with him. And with a crowd expected, including progeny of officials and magnates with their partners, these social gatherings typically didn’t welcome mistresses or flings.

“If not Brielle, then who?” Max’s tone was indifferent, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes as the car passed a display window.

“Did Tessa ever knit you a scarf?”

The abrupt change in topic caught Andrew off guard for a moment.